Centrifuge for clarifying fluid



7 Aug. *4, 1959 R. L. DEGA 2,898,037

CENTRIFUGE FOR CLARIFYING FLUID Filed March 9, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1959 R. L. DEGA 2,898,037

CENTRIFUGE FOR CLARIFYING FLUID Filed March 9, 1955 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 2if Q INVENTO ,MJ 4 w M Ma;

ATTORNEY ire. ttes CENTRIFUGE FOR CLARIFYING FLUID Application March 9,1955, Serial No. 493,090

3 Claims. (Cl. 233-21) This invention relates to centrifuges fortreating fluids and more particularly to centrifugal separators forremoving solid particles or impurities from oil or other liquids.

In the separation of finely divided solids or impurities from fluids ofless specific gravity such as oil, centrifugal separators have beenutilized but difliculties have been experienced heretofore in cleaningthe apparatus employed and in facilitating the removal of the impuritiesfrom the apparatus for ultimate disposal. It will be appreciated thatthe sludge formed by the impurities is of such a nature that it is notconducive to ease of handling.

The present invention constitutes an improvement of the centrifugalapparatus disclosed in the application for United States Letters Patent,Serial Number 376,014, filed August 24, 1953, in the name of Robert L.Dega.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved centrifugein the use of which suspended impurities may be separated from a fluidsuch as oil and so deposited that they may easily be removed from theapparatus.

Another object is to provide a centrifuge which, during normaloperation, retains foreign matter or impurities separated from a fluidof less specific gravity and which is so constructed that the separatedimpurities may be collected in a convenient receptacle by subsequentoperation of the centrifuge.

To these ends, a feature of the invention pertains to a centrifuge withits main operative parts accessible at one end thereof for disassemblyand cleaning. Another feature is a removable sleeve defining the outerwall of at least one pocket into which the impurities are depositedduring normal fluid clarifying operation of the centrifuge. Stillanother feature pertains to a stationary receptacle or trough arrangedin combination with a removable sleeve surrounding a rotatablecentrifuge body, the removable character of the sleeve permittingtransfer of impurities restrained by the sleeve to a receptacle ortrough during periods between normal operational intervals of theapparatus.

These and other important features of the invention will now bedescribed in detail and pointed out more particularly in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional and elevational view taken in a plane passingthrough the axis of a centrifuge in which the present invention isembodied, a power source therefor being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the centrifuge shown in Fig. 1 withportions removed to illustrate the operation;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a detail shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 44 inFig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view looking in the direction of arrows -5-5 inFig. 2.

In the drawings, the centrifuge disclosed is shown to comprise a supportgenerally indicated at This support comprises a vertical and cylindricalshell 12 having an annular angle bar 14 surrounding and attached to its2,898,037 Patented Aug. 4, 1959 base to serve as an adequate footing. Anintermediate portion of the shell 12 is provided with a flanged member16 in its interior and upon which a conical casting 18 is mounted. Thiscasting is so made as to provide a fluid inlet passage 20 which extendsfrom outside of the shell 12 upwardly and inwardly to an annular chamber22 formed in the upper portion of the casting. The latter also is soformed as to provide an outlet passage 24 which communicates with anannular chamber 28 concentric with the chamber 22 and separated from thelatter by a portion 30 of the casting. The passage 24 extends downwardlyand outwardly into alignment with an opening 32 in the shell 12. Aninlet pipe 34 and an outlet pipe 36 are shown in dot-and-dash lines inFig. 1 and the arrangement is such that these pipes may be connected tothe casting 13 in a conventional manner so that they communicate withthe passages 20 and 24', respectively. It should be noted that the inletpassage 20 is larger in cross section than the outlet passage 24. Thepipe 34 is arranged to communicate with a source of supply ofcontaminated fluid such as oil having gritty particles suspended in it.The pipe 36 is adapted to convey clarified fluid such as clear oil to acontainer for receiving the same for reuse.

An electric motor 40 is mounted within the support 10 in such a way thatits shaft 42 is directed upwardly to communicate by means of a universaljoint 44 with a reduced and solid end 46 of a hollow shaft 48. The end46 of the shaft is journaled in the casting 18. Free rotation of theshaft is permitted by means of a ball bearing arrangement 50 and a fluidtight sealing arrangement 52. A hearing retainer plate 53 is attached tothe underside of the casting 18 by four cap screws and serves to retainthe bearing and'sealing arrangements 50 and 52 in place as well as tosupport the shaft 48. The shaft 48 bears a shoulder 54 which rests uponthe sealing arrangement 52. However, the major portion of the weight ofthe rotation portion is supported by a second shoulder resting on theinner race of ball bearing 50. The shaft is also provided with fourradial slots 56 by means of which the interior of the shaft communicateswith the chamber 28 and the outlet passage 24. The shaft 48 is alsojournaled within a bushing 58 retainedwithin the casting portion 30. Theupper end of the shaft 48 is open and also threaded to receive a collar60. Spaced from the open end of the shaft and fixed to the latter is anouter annular ridge member or shoulder portion 62.

Also journaled on the casting 18 is a hollow stub shaft 64 which isarranged concentrically with the shaft 48 and is provided with a steppedflange 66 at its upper end. This flange rests upon a packing arrangement68 surrounding the shaft 64 and which is placed in a recess 70 formed inthe top of the casting. The lower end of the shaft 64 is journaledwithin a bushing 72 fixed to the casting. A vertical drain passage 74extends downwardly from the sealed recess 70 and communicates with theoutlet passage 24.

A two-piece centrifuge body is attached to the two shafts 48 and 64.This body is surrounded by an outer portion or structure 82 whichincludes a wall 83 and outwardly extending parallel flanges 82A and 82Bto define an annular chamber adapted to receive impurities. Thisstructure also includes radial vanes 86 extending outward- 1y from thewall 83 and a removable sleeve 88. In the instant disclosure 1?. vanes86 are provided to divide the annular chamber surrounded by the sleeve88 into 12 pockets 84.

The flanges 82A and 82B are recessed to receive 0- rings 90 and 92constituting seals against the inner surface of the sleeve member 88.Welded to the top end of the sleeve 88 is an annular or ring-like member94 which is adapted to rest upon the top marginal surface 96 of thestructure 82. The ring-like member 94 cooperates with the structure 82to present a beveled and inwardly directed edge-for engagement with aclamp or snap ring 100. The latter is formed in two arcuate portions100A and 100B as seen in Fig. 3. of these two portions are joinedtogether by means of a toggle arrangement 102 having no adjustmentprovided therein. The other ends of these portions are joined by meansof a toggle arrangement 104 incorporating a threaded rod 106 and a pivotconnection 108 adjustably held on the rod. It will be understood thatthe clamp or snap ring 100 may be expanded by moving the pivots 110 and112 of the toggle arrangement 102 and 104 outwardly. The ring 100 may bereduced in diameter by moving the pivot points inwardly.

The centrifuge body 80 includes an end portion 120 to which the flange82A is joined. This end portion is attached to the main portion 122 ofthe centrifuge body by means of bolts 124 which pass downwardly and intoportions 126 extending into the dirt pockets 84. These bolts areaccessible from the upper end of the apparatus as will further appear.

The end portion 120 is formed with recesses 130 which extend betweenadjacent vanes 86. With the end portion 120 and the main portion 122joined together in the assembly, the recesses 130 define arcuate slotswhich communicate outwardly with the dirt pockets 84.

The upper central and interior part of the end portion 120 provides achamber 132 which communicates with the interior of the shaft 48 andalso with radial passages 134. These passages extend outwardly and thencurve downwardly into the main portion 122 and inwardly to the ductformed within the shaft 64. A hub 136 on the portion 120 is fixed to thecollar 60 by means of a pin 138.

Support of the body 80 is borne at two areas on the shaft 48. Inassembling the centrifuge, the portion 120 is first joined to the collar60 by means'of the pin 138 to form a top unit. This unit is then joinedto the main body portion 122 by means of bolts 124. The completecentrifuge body 80 is then screwed down on the shaft 48 until theportion 122 engagesjhe shoulder portion 62 locking the rotative partstogether. Support of the centrifuge body 80 in a vertical direction is,therefore, given at the top portion and the shoulder portion 62 of theshaft 48. Lateral stability is given by the shaft 64.

It will be noted that the passages 134 within the main centrifuge bodyportion 122 present imperforate outer walls 140 which are inclinedoutwardly and upwardly to the openings or slots 130. As seen in Figs. 4and 5, the passages 134 are separated by vanes 142. Each vane 142 is inradial alignment with a vane 86.

Around the shell 12 and near the upper end thereof is placed a gutter144 and resting within that gutter in such a way that detachment mayeasily be undertaken is a downturned flange 146 which is a portion of atrough 148. The trough likewise surrounds the shell 12 and the outerwall 150 thereof is joined to a conical portion 152 to constitute areceptacle for receiving impurities previously separated from the oil aswill subsequently appear. A reduced upper end 154 of the receptacle isformed to present an outwardly extending ridge 156 upon which may restthe rolled edge 158 of a cover 160 provided with a handle 162. The coveris so made as to enclose or conceal the rotatable parts of thecentrifuge within the receptacle.

In operation of the centrifuge the motor 40 is caused to rotate thecentrifuge body 80 by means of the shaft 48 and oil to be clarified issupplied under pressure through the pipe 34, the intake passage 20, andthe annular duct formed by the shaft 64 to the passages 134. Impuritiesare caused to be discharged through the slots 130 by virtue of theirhigher specific gravity as compared with the oil and the clarified oilsubse- Adjacent ends quently passing down through the shaft 48 isdischarged through the openings 56 and the passage 24 to the pipe 36.The impurities discharged outwardly by way of the slots are deposited inthe pockets 84 and the latter are of suflicient capacity to serve for aconsiderable length of time before cleaning of the apparatus is needed.The separation of the impurities from the oil at the slots is sharp anddistinct and no opportunity is afforded in the centrifuge for the oiland impurities again to intermix.

In an initial operation of the centrifuge there is a flow of liquidthrough the slots 130 into the pockets 84 to fill the latter. Duringsubsequent operation and as impurities are thrown into the pockets, avolume of liquid equal to the volume of separated impurities must bedisplaced back through the slots into the main liquid stream. Theresulting counter current flow of impurities and liquid in the slots hasno appreciable effect on eflicient operation as the quantity of liquiddisplaced in a given time interval is very small whereas the centrifugalforce imparted to the impurities is considerable.

After an extended period of operation when the pockets 84 may become sofilled with impurities or sludge as to impair the eflicient operation ofthe apparatus, the motor 40 is stopped and the cover is removed from theconical portion 152. The snap ring or clamp 100 is then reduced indiameter by suitable operation of the toggles 102 and 104 so that thesleeve 88 is free for manual removal in an upward direction from thecentrifuge body. Removal of the sleeve 88 causes the pockets 84 to beopen to the receptacle constituting the conical portion 152 and thetrough 148. The cover 160 is then replaced in its position concealingthe centrifuge body and the motor 40 is again operated centrifugally -incleaning out the deposited impurities or means not shown may be employedfor cleaning the trough and portion 152 in situ.

After cleaning of the apparatus, the sleeve 88 and snap ring 100 as wellas the cover 160 are again placed in their operative positions and thecentrifuge is again ready to perform its operative cycle.

I claim:

1. A centrifuge for clarifying fluid comprising a support having a fluidinlet passage and a fluid outlet passage therein, concentric hollowshafts journaled on said support for rotation about a vertical axis andforming ducts communicating separately with said inlet and outletpassages, a centrifuge body connected to said shafts for rotationtherewith, passages within said body connecting 'said ducts, structurearound said body forming at least one pocket for the reception ofimpurities, said structure including a sleeve detachably joined to saidbody partially to define said one pocket, an opening leading from one ofsaid body passages to said pocket, a receptacle surrounding said bodyand structure and arranged to form a stationary trough for reception ofimpurities from said pocket upon removal of said sleeve, a removablecover on said receptacle for concealing said centrifuge body, structureand detachable sleeve, means attached to said body for rotating the sameand associated with said support at one end of the body, and said sleeveand cover being removable from said body at the other end thereof.

2. A centrifuge comprising a support having a fluid inlet passage and afluid outlet passage therein, vertical and coaxial hollow shaftsjournaled on said support, one of said shafts being relatively short andcommunicating with said inlet passage, the other of said shafts beinglonger and within said one shaft and communicating with said outletpassage, a centrifuge rotor body with its interior connected to saidshafts and arranged to be driven by one of said shafts, said supportbeing located at one end only of the rotor body, a sleeve detachablyfixed to and encircling said body and cooperating with the latter informing at least one pocket for the reception and retention ofimpurities during normal centrifuge operation, an opening leadingoutwardly from the interior of said body to said pocket, the upper endof said rotor body being closed and accessible to facilitate removal ofthe sleeve in the direction of the rotor body axis, and a receptaclesupported free of and surrounding said sleeve and arranged to receivesaid impurities from said pocket upon detachment of the said sleeve fromsaid rotor body.

3. A centrifuge such as set forth in claim 2, the receptacle includingan annular trough located beneath and ex-- tending outside the peripheryof the rotor body and there by being adapted to receive impurities fromthe latter by gravitational and centrifugal forces when the sleeve is 5removed from said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 101,052,777 Ward Feb. 11, 1913 2,519,971 Le Clair Aug. 22, 1950 2,688,437Monnet Sept. 7, 1954

